Construction of a new support centre and housing for people experiencing homelessness is set to commence thanks to the generosity of key Western Australian philanthropists.
St Patrick’s Community Support Centre (St Pat’s) can move forward with a $22 million* investment in addressing homelessness after receiving a major gift from Minderoo Foundation.
This game-changing gift joins significant contributions from the WA Government and Lotterywest, and other major philanthropic gifts including from the Congregation of the Sisters of St John of God, The McCusker Charitable Foundation, Richard Lockwood, Sea Corporation Pty Ltd and the Osboine Family.
Collectively, funds raised so far allow St Pat’s to commence the build-phase of its Queen Victoria and Beach Street sites’ redevelopment; and goes some way towards funding the fit-out of the buildings, including one of the two dental clinics within the new Day Centre.
The project includes a $7.5 million contribution from the Cook Government to fund 28 new social homes on the site, providing long term housing for people exiting homelessness in the form of self-contained apartments, and will turn an old warehouse on Beach Street into a purpose-built Community Centre and Health Facility, as well as sensitively renovating St Pat’s existing heritage premises.
St Pat’s, which has been providing specialist homelessness support for people experiencing homelessness for more than 50 years, had set an ambitious target to raise $22 million before National Homelessness Week, which took place from 5 to 11 August, to fund the project’s construction.
“Thanks to the generosity of our major partners we’ve been able to reach our target ahead of schedule,” St Pat’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Piu, said.
“With the internal fit-out still to raise, we are however on the home stretch to deliver on this extraordinary and game-changing opportunity to contribute to ending chronic homelessness in our community.”
Minderoo Foundation founder, Nicola Forrest AO said St Pat’s reaches out and meets people where they are, providing a safe place for them to be seen, to be heard and to get access to services that many of us take for granted.
“Innovative redevelopments like this will enable St Pat’s to provide much-needed relief for those facing chronic homelessness and will continue to have a profound impact in the community for many years to come,” Ms Forrest said.
“Minderoo Foundation are proud to join many other partners in supporting this human-centered approach wrapped with practical, timely solutions,” she said.
Mr Piu said the new facilities for St Pat’s couldn’t come at a better time, with demand for its services growing exponentially, year-on-year.
In the past 12 months alone, the not-for-profit has seen a 30 per cent increase across the board for its support services, with its accommodation at capacity and an 18-month wait list for people accessing its pro-bono dental clinic.
“As much as we love our current home, and the things it has allowed us to achieve, we know that we have to step-up and scale-up our services, including early intervention, and we need the right housing with wrap-around support to help people attain, and maintain, housing.”
Health Facilities slated to commence later this year. Photo: Sourced/St Pat’s Community Support Centre.
St Pat’s expect to engage a builder in August, with construction on the new Community Centre and Health Facilities slated to commence later this year.
“The beauty of this project is that it’s bringing people and organisations together to take real action in tackling homelessness and build a fairer, more resilient community for everyone who calls WA home,” Mr Piu said.
St Pat’s will continue its fundraising efforts in support of specialist fit-out of areas of the buildings including health and dental clinics.
A Public Appeal to raise funds to assist people facing chronic homelessness move into their new onsite accommodation is also underway.